B E H I N D / T H E / B A R

Wouldn’t you know that the vey week I tell all my friends about Thursday’s with Gene, that Gene goes and decides to come in to the shop on Fridays?

Oh well, the conversations are still good, no matter what day it is.  One of the most memorable conversations I’ve had with Gene, was the day he came in and asked me what I had been preaching to myself.  I looked at him with restrained curiosity, and asked him to explain his question.

Gene went on to share that Jude 1:20 says that we are to build ourselves “up in our most holy faith.”  “I think he’s saying we have to preach to ourselves sometimes” Gene concluded.  He went on to tell me about some of the hard times he had been through in his lifetime, and even though he would share his burdens with others, sometimes his best source of encouragement was himself.

Gene, challenged me to always do my best to commit to memory the Word that I preach on Sundays or share with others on any given day.  Because this Word will come in handy in my own life when I face times of challenge or discouragement.  “Take that Word, and preach to yourself.”

I’ve thought a lot about this.  Apparently, Gene didn’t invent the idea.  In fact it would appear that others have been preaching to themselves for a long time.  David preached to himself in Psalm 42:5

Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

So, what are you going through in your life right now?  What are you preaching to yourself?   You might very well find words of encouragement from others, but maybe the best encouragement rests right there inside of you, nestled in the truth that you already know to be true.

Preach to yourself.   I’ll be right here shouting “Amen to that!”